Ice-cream-brick slicer and receptacle



J. D. LOWRY ICE CREAM BRICK SLICER AND REGEPTACLE Patented May 4,1926.

`i UNITED STATES JOHN n.- LOWRY, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.`

ICE-CREAM-BRICK SLICER AND RECEPTAIE.

Applicationmed March 17, i925. Asei-iai No. 16,201.

To all 'whom z''may concern.'

slices of predetermined thickness, uniformly for the length of the block.

e For example, it is the practice to serve ice-cream in the formof slabs cut transversely from a brick. Large quantities ,of these bricks are consumed in various placesof refreshment' and other establishments, and

in homes. The slicing is done more or less independently ofthe other and free from indiiferently with the result that no uniform number of slices is obtained per brick, when cutting up a series of bricks,though these mayall be of the same size. v f i It is desirable to provide for the' cutting of each brick (of a given size) into a uniform number of slices, especially in public service stands so that each customer will receive a like slice and satisfaction of service obtained. f

Another object is to provide for accuracy of slicing with rapidity ofoperation, and to provide for cutting `of one or a number of slicesat one operation.v l

Another object is to provide a combined slicer and receptacle forming a practical-4 .iy complete box in which a sliced orrunsliced brick may be kept in a cooling chamber or on a cold table, and to provide a receptacle having a closure part permitting ready access to the contents, for slicing and for removing `a slice. Another object isto provide a combined receptacle and Slicer of very simple parts and construction, to thus enable low cost of production and reasonable selling price. An object -is to provide a combined Vgaging receptacle and cutting' orA slicing means in the form of cleav-ers each movable the receptacle closure but operable thereby as a gang for concurrently slicing an ice- -cream ybrick (or other sliceable body in the receptacle) into` a row of slices each separated by a cleaver rblade from the other to prevent congealing or running-together while reposingin the receptacle.V

Again, an object is to provide a food receptacle which is devoid offsinall pockets and has all parts freely open for thorough cleansing and thusy achieving a perfectly sanitary condition .of 'the utensil when scalded and rinsed out.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following speciiication of .apparatus of one embodiment of the invention as illustratedgit beingunderstood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted tol within the spirit of the inv-cnt i-onand its lscope asis 4here claimed.

Figure 1 isa closed.

Figure 2 is a vertical crossesection, the closure being in open position.

vFigure B is a perspective of one end portion of the'receptacle. v

Figure i is a front elevation of a portion of the receptacle, showing a latch keeper.

Figure .,5 is a detail sectionall view showperspective of receptacle,

ing a blade gang-key for keying .all the Cleaver blades to the closure top to open therewith.l

Figure 6 is a detail showing a form of bolt for latching the top to the receptacle, for carriage purposes. i v

In its preferred embodiment, the utensil includes a receptacle o r tray portion having a flatbottom 2 of a width and length determined only by the dimensions of a brick of ice-cream or other object to be severed (the use extending to any material capable of being sliced by the cleaver blades of the device). Along the bottom yextend parallel walls 3 which are serrated by vertical, equispaced kerfsv t running tothe bottom ,f opposite kerfsbeing aligned across the botr tom, which has no end walls. The height of lthe walls is somewhat greater than the thickness, vertically, of a givenbrick of ice-cream, which is indicated by dash lines B.

Extending along a lower, outer cornerof the receptacle is a pivot rodv 5 hung in suitable bearings 6 and mounted on this rod is a seriesof parallel, upright blades 7 which, .when tipped out to open position as in Fig. 2, lie clear of the space between the walls 3-3 so as to permit the ready insertion of a brick B, if such is to be sliced. The inner, upright edges of the blades 7 are disposed in the near slots or kerfs 4 and thus sustained in their relation.

Preferably, there is provided at one end a gage blade 8 tiltable, on rod 5, inwardly across the receptacle end to form a stop against which to thrust the end of the brick inserted for slicing. After the brick has been so disposed in the receptacle then the outthrown blades 7 may, lcon'imencing with the one nearest the stop plate 8, be forced in and across the brick, to slice off one piece at a time, successively,- if so desired. To help' such slicing moveinent each cleaver blade 7 may have a projecting linger grip '7a on its corner most remote from the ypivot rod 5. After the slice is severed the stop gage 8 is thrown back out of the way to provide access to the brick end.

This simple form of the device enables quick and accurate slicing as the blades are individually forced in, but to obtain a quicker action and simultaneous move-ments of the blades 7 I provide a universal frame including a top l() correspondingto the bottom 2 and having rigid end panels l1 pivoted on the ends of the pivot rod 5 and `being tiltable across the ends of the receptacle or tray part 2 3. Along the top l() is a rigid corf ner flange l2 spaced back far enough to lie against the near corners of the blades 7 which, as shown in Fig. l, project beyond the back wall 3 in order to receive the pivot rod 5. The blades 7 project up enough above the walls 3 to be engaged by the top lO or a part thereof or thereon, and` be forced down through thebrick B to the bottom 2 when the top structure is tilted up over the receptacle in which the brick has been placed against the previously inwardly set gage plate 8. i

Therefore, when desired, the whole brick can be cut into a number of slices, whose thicknessr will be determined by the spacing of the slicing cleavers 7. Obviously, if alternate cleavers be detached from the pivot rod 5, a doubled thickness of slice will be cut, and so on by suitable spacing of the cleaver-s. lVlien'ice-cream sandwiches are to be made, a rather thin slicing is utilized, say three-eighths inch thickness.

It may be desirable to withdraw all of the cleaver blades at one time by the opening movement of the closure so that the slices can be rapidly, successively, taken out or the whole, sliced brick may be removed. To that end a key-bar 14 is slidably mounted on the under face of the top and has projections l5 extending up through slots 16 in the top and which allow for just enough movement of the key-bar to shift key-lugs 17 into notch roots 18 provided in the top edges of the cleaver blades 7. When so interlocked to the key-bar the .blades 7 will be pulled up and outwardly on their pivot rod 5 as the top is swung back to the open position. To release the blades the key-bar is shifted to retract the lugs 17 from the blades; the body of the key-bar swinging clear of the blades when the top is swung out.

The projections l5 vprovide for attachment of a foldable handle 2() above the top 10 if so desired, though it may bel otherwise attached.

The utensil may be utilized as a closed container for storage in a cooling chamber, and to enable transportation by-use of its handle V20 the topV is adapted to be locked closed. This is accomplished byanysuitable means, as a sliding bolt 22'fo'n one part to engage a; keeperv 23 on another part.y

ln Figs. l and 2, the cover Apart has Aa hinged flange 25 curved to conform -with the outline of the blade linger grips 7s. In this case the bolt 22 is mountedon the flange 25 in a position to register with a keeper 23 on the Ynear wall part 3.

The lstop yor gage plate 8 Visnot-engaged by andl docs not move out with the key-bar, but forms a retractive end wall for the brick. Y

lllhat is claimed is:

1. An ice-cream brick slicer including parallel, verticallyslotted side walls and a bottom forming an'open ended tray, and a series of relatively independent and separately tiltable cleaver blades adapted to form' partitions from wall to wall and -eX- tending substantially" from the bottom of the tray to t-he top thereof, for completely separating the severed slices and preventing them froin'me-rging together after thev cut is made.

2. Anice-cream brick slicer including an open top tray' part having plane side walls with recesses from top to bottom and being open atits end, and a gangof independently movable pivoted cleaver blades mount-ed along one side of the tray to be moved into transverse position and lie in aligned recesses in the walls. Y

3. An. ice-cream brick slicer including a tray part having recessed -side wallsand being open at one end and at the top, a stop plate adjustable across the open end to position aninserted brick,and tiltable cleaver kblades movable -into slicing position across the tray; the stop plate being pivotally mounted at one lower corner so as to swing to and from a closed position at one endof the tray. Y

4E. An ice-cream brick slicer including a tray part having recessed sidewalls and. an open end, a plate at the open end, a gang of independently movable slicing blades, and

means forI concurrently movingall of the blades into slicing position across the tray. 5. An ice-cream brickshcer including a tray part, a gang of independent-ly movable slicing blades, and means for concurrently moving all of the blades into slicing position across the tray and being retractive independently of the thrown cleaving blades to 'leave them for subsequent withdrawal from the brick. y

6. In a slicing device, a tray part having opposite slotted walls and an open end, a tiltable stop plate adjustable in the open end, a gang of cleaving blades, and means for swinging the blades across and into the tray and for retracting the blades.

7. In a slicing device, a tray part having opposite recessed walls and an open end, a swinging stop at the open end, a gang of blades into cutting position across the tray and for i'etracting them and including a releasing device to leave the blades in separating position between the slices of the substance cut.

8. In a slicing device a tray part open at each end and having slotted side walls, and a gang of slicing blades mounted in parallel relation and each vbeing separately tiltable into and out of the tray, and means for moving the blades.

9. In a slicing device, an open top tray part having side walls and an open end, and

a gang of pivoted slicing blades tiltablyy movable through slotsv inrone of said side walls and being maintained in parallelism thereby in open and closed positions.

l0. In a slicing device, a tray part having side walls, a pivot rod extending along a lower corner oi the tray, and a gang of slicing blades each independently pivoted on the rod and being independently movable as to each other. y

l1. A combined receptacle and ice-creain brick Slicer including a walled tray part, a closure having a top for the tray part and being pivotally attached thereto along a lower corner thereof, and cleaving means similarly pivoted on the tray and movable from inner transverse position across the Ytray to a retracted position in the opened closure. '1

12A combined receptacle and ice-cream brick Slicer including a walled tray part, a closure having a top for the tray part and ,being pivotally attached thereto along a tray to a retracted position in the opened,

closure; said closure having a portio-n .to en gage and swing the cleaving meansr into the trayl to slice a brick therein. cleaving` blades, and means for swinging the .Y

l 13. A combined receptacle and' ice-cream slicer including a walled tray part, a closure having a top for the tray and being pivotally attached thereto, cleaving means pivoted on the tray for movement into transf verse positio-n therein, and means Jfor securing the closureand the cleaving means for concurrent outward movement after a brick has been sliced. v

14. A combined recep-tacle and ice-cream brick slicer including ay walled tray part, a closure having a top for the tray and being pivotally attached thereto, and cleaving tio-n ;v whereby enabling carriage by a handle' on the closure.

vJOI-IN y D. LOWRY.

`means pivotally attached to the tray for Y transverse movement tliereinto; said cleav 

